Snowstorms occur frequently in the vicinity of Salt Lake City, Utah during the majority of the winter and spring months. Many of these storms produce heavy snowfall and can cripple the city's transportation as well as cause structural damage to buildings and down trees and power lines under the duress of the weight of heavy snow. Annual estimates of damage caused by snow and the associated winds with these snowstorms to property in the Salt Lake Valley approach $1,000,000. Forecasting these major winter storms is imperative in reducing the damage caused by the storms and reducing the number of vehicular accidents and loss of life. Well-forecasted events includes accurate timing of both the onset and end of the event in addition to somewhat accurate forecasted snow depth amounts. Complicating the ability to accurately forecast both the end of a snow storm event and the depth of the snow it produces is the Great Salt Lake located to the northwest of the metropolitan area. Numerous case studies of the effect of the Great Salt Lake on prolonging snowfall and increasing snow depth in the Salt Lake Valley and Wasatch Mountains to the east of the city have been shown to require specific criteria to initiate such an event, but that forecasting these criteria are difficult.

Synoptic Evolution of Snow Storms 1961-1996

Snow Storms 1961-1970*

Snow Storms 1971-1980*

Snow Storms 1981-1990*

Snow Storms 1991-1996*

Post-Frontal Snow Storms
Dates Investigated by David M. Carpenter@ 1971-1988**
Recent Snowbands Observed by Doppler Radar